About 2000 revellers enjoyed an open air street party in Stornoway on Hogmany despite critics advocating it should be boycotted because it was not held at the bells.
Though the annual Hogmanay fireworks display has not been held at midnight before, some locals claimed its timing was altered this year so not to offend "religious fanatics" as the New Year fell on the Sabbath.
2,000 people at Stornoway street party 1/1/12
In a traditional Hebridean danns' an rathaid event, young and old joined in a Strip
the Willow and other energetic dances which helped ward off the cold during the two
hour musical feast. Bayhead Street was closed off to allow the event to go-
There was an enthusiastic reaction to a spectacular free fireworks display which lit up the sky at 10pm. Local bands Oidhche Chaidain and Face the West performed as did Sea Atlas and Fiona Martin.
Tony Robson of Stornoway Amenity trust which organised the event said the Sabbath timing row was a "red herring."
He said street party was a great success and people were delighted with it.
But popular local demand usually means the fireworks display is often held earlier on New Year's Eve so families and young children are not excluded.
Traditionally, islanders take in the bells at their own homes before heading out to parties or first footing.
Many Stornoway pubs did not use their late licences which allows them to open into Sunday morning and closed around 10pm instead.
Brother and sister Harry and Krysta Bray enjoying the dancing
2,000 people watched the fireworks display
In comparison to the massive crowd, only 350 people -
A number of islanders turned on the internet complainers including Donald Maciver who wrote: "Most people take in the bells at home with their families anyway, as per the Lewis tradition, so you wouldn't have many people hanging around in town at midnight to watch some fireworks.
"You lot need to get a grip. And a message to all those who have been calling for Tony Robson's resignation over the last few days, and trying to drag Cllr Charlie Nicolson's (Amenity Trust chairman) name through the mud, you lot need to take a hard look at yourselves.
“I for one certainly can't think of anyone who has done more for this community, and especially for the youth in this community, than Charlie Nicolson over the years."
It appears that, despite their verbal online attacks against the volunteers running the event, the critics failed to either organise or get anyone to turn up to their own protest midnight street party.
The fireworks display lit up the night sky
